Our Story
How it all began
Read the Play was founded in 2006 by David Langley, inspired by personal family experiences with mental health challenges.
Recognising the growing need for mental health support among young people, David envisioned a program that would equip young players with the knowledge and confidence to seek help and support their teammates.
To bring this vision to life, David presented the idea to his employer Grant Kempe from Kempe Engineering, who saw its potential and provided crucial support. With this backing, David engaged with key stakeholders in Geelong, including:
Football and netball networks
Community leaders and council members
Barwon Health and Headspace
How it was recieved:
The response was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the importance of mental health awareness in sports. What started as a local initiative has since grown into a widely recognised program, reaching thousands of young players across multiple sports each year.
At Read the Play, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. Through sport, we empower young people to start conversations, seek support, and build resilience.